By Ann Marie Angebrandt
THE heat is rising on the Wyndham City Council elections with citizens of the year, former mayors, and several community activists throwing their hats into the ring.
Former mayor and Wyndham Citizen of the Year for 2005 Shane Bourke made a surprise announcement last Wednesday.
“It was really a decision that just evolved. I looked at the people running and the way the council is running and it seemed like the right thing to do,” he said.
Mr Bourke was the last mayor of the Shire of Werribee, in 1994, and the inaugural mayor of the City of Wyndham in 1997 and 1998.
He is also a high profile community fundraiser and has sat on several school and community committees during the past 20 years.
He recently began operating a business consultancy.
“The time is right, and what I really want to do is put the council back into the community,” he said.
Another wellknown identity, Heather Marcus, also announced her candidacy last week.
She is probably best known for her work in organising the Weerama Festival for the past 20 years.
She has also established several other major events including fashion awards, dancesport championships and young idol competitions which now draw contestants from across the state.
Ms Marcus was voted Citizen of the Year in 2003.
“With so much growth and so many changes in Wyndham, it’s an exciting time to be involved,” she said.
Ms Marcus planned to continue as artistic director of the Weerama Festival, if elected, saying Wyndham CEO Ian Robins had advised her there would be no conflict of interest.
Ms Marcus ran unsuccessfully for council in 1986 but, almost 20 years later, said the time was right to try again.
“I thought for a long time that I could achieve more outside of the council than within it.
“Now I want to be directly involved,” she said.
Threetime former council chief, John Gibbons is another candidate hoping to reestablish a role with local government.
He served 15 years as a local councillor, including two terms as Werribee Shire president between 1983 and 1985, and another as Werribee mayor in 19921993.
Mr Gibbons said supporters have urged him to go another round.
“Something like this is in your blood,” he said. “Some people might say why do we want to bring those old ones back, but I don’t think there’s been enough balance between experienced and inexperienced on the council.”
Continued on Page 2.
He said he has been disappointed by what he sees as a deterioration in community consultation, a lack of transparency in decisionmaking, and the influence of party politics in what used to be a grassroots organisation.
“The bureaucracy has become very big and the Council’s affinity with the people has definitely declined,” he said.
“People I talk to in the community say the Council has less relevance now than it has had for many years.”
Other candidates putting up their hands for the new ninecouncillor electorate include police and safety activist Lori McLean, migrant advocate Walter Villagonzola, firefighter Glen Goodfellow, safety officer Chris Ryan, roads campaigner Kim McAliney, and Point Cook residents’ chief Leigh Barrett.
Incumbent councillors hoping for another term are Henry Barlow, Peter Hawkins, Cynthia Manson, Mark Rose and Peter Ross.
Official nominations open 17 October and close 25 October.
